High school football: East three-star DE Korey Rush commits to Nevada

Korey Rush of East loses his helmet as Bountiful faces East in high school football in Bountiful, Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. (Ravell Call, Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — East High defensive end Korey Rush didn’t envision committing to the University of Nevada when he scheduled his official visit last weekend.

“By no means; definitely not,” Rush said. “I was hardened because I saw the bad side of recruiting, so I kind of went into my visit kind of skeptical.”

Rush, widely regarded as a three-star recruit, originally committed to Arizona State, but when he sustained a season-ending chest injury midway through his senior season his scholarship offer was downgraded to a grey-shirt. He elected to part ways with the Sun Devils and reopen his recruitment.

Things change quickly. After a positive experience in Reno, Nev., Rush announced his commitment to the Wolf Pack to the Deseret News via text message late Tuesday night.

Korey Rush (East) (, )

“Lake Tahoe is 20 minutes away and the whole landscape of it reminds me a lot of Salt Lake City other than the casinos,” Rush said. “The point that really won me over is coach Bill (Teerlinck) brought in myself and the other recruits and he broke down a lot of the Indianapolis Colts film and the Nevada film. The way that he was able to communicate to me, I really admired and that’s what won me over.”

Teerlinck spent five years as a defensive assistant with the Colts where he worked with Nevada coach Brian Polian and coached Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, both of whom were named to the Pro Bowl four times.

“They’re frank and that’s another thing I liked,” Rush said. “I needed someone to be straight up with me. They told me to come in and to be ready and expect to play 25-30 plays a game. They have two really good defensive ends, so I don’t see myself starting next year, but they rotate a lot and that works for me.”

Rush tore his pectoral muscle in the third game of the 2013 season. During his sophomore and junior seasons, Rush (6-2, 245) recorded 79 tackles and 19 sacks.